Complete non-returnable-PET line ensures high productivity

With a non-returnable-PET line as a turnkey job, the rapidly expanding Hellefors Bryggeri has put additional bottling capacities in place for the growing PET segment. Hellefors fills the PET bottles with cider (with and without alcohol), soft drinks, fruit squash and water. Krones supplied the entire line, including the process technology involved.
The Contiform S10 stretch blow-moulding machine is mechanically BLOC-synchronised with the filler using an enclosed neck-handling drag chain with integrated container base cooling. Hellefors opted here for a Mecafill VKP-PET short-tube counterpressure filler, which can be used for both the cider products and the still beverages. After the screw-caps have been fitted, a Checkmat F-G inspection unit uses a camera to monitor the closure position, and gamma rays to check the fill level. A downstream Accuflow buffer table provides the requisite buffering.

Depending on the product involved, either a Contiroll labeller for wrap-around labelling or a Prontomatic labeller for handling paper labels is used. Another Checkmat monitors the placement of the wrap-around labels. For end-of the-line packaging, too, Hellefors has two alternatives to choose from. A fully automatic Variopac TFS 60 packer with shrink tunnel produces shrink-packs with and without trays. The pallets are loaded by a Pressant palletiser, and a Robot 3A.
In the returnables system, the Robot 3 A also handles the retrays involved.
A maximum of four operators a shift suffices to run the new line, including a continual supply of consumables. Most of the time, the line is operated in three shifts, rising to four shifts in the summer months.